diff --git a/evennia/objects/admin.py b/evennia/objects/admin.py
index c20e6c1ed4..890841ac7a 100644
--- a/evennia/objects/admin.py
+++ b/evennia/objects/admin.py
@@ -147,6 +147,13 @@ class ObjectDBAdmin(admin.ModelAdmin):
         obj.save()
         if not change:
             # adding a new object
+            # no idea why this has to be called manually, __init__ does not seem to be called
+            from evennia.utils.utils import class_from_module
+            try:
+                typeclass = class_from_module(obj.db_typeclass_path)
+            except ImportError:
+                typeclass = class_from_module("evennia.objects.objects.DefaultObject")
+            obj.__class__ = typeclass
             obj.basetype_setup()
             obj.basetype_posthook_setup()
             obj.at_object_creation()